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Bloomfield council to consider symbolic support of law enforcement

By James Fenton jfenton@daily-times.com

Updated:
02/10/2013 09:52:14 PM MST

BLOOMFIELD — City council will meet Monday to vote on a resolution showing support for the Second Amendment.

Drafted by City Manger David Fuqua with input from Police Chief Mike Kovacs and San Juan County Sheriff Ken Christesen, the measure — titled "Resolution Supporting the Second Amendment and San Juan County Sheriff Ken Christesen and the New Mexico Sheriff's Association" — is a statement of support for upholding citizens' constitutional right to possess guns.

Modeled after similar resolutions from sheriff's associations in neighboring states, the document is also a symbolic show of support for Christesen, the titular head of law enforcement in the county, and for sheriffs across the state, officials said.

"As mayor, I totally support the Second Amendment and the Constitution," Scott Eckstein said. "When you're elected, you're sworn to uphold the Constitution, so this gets my support."

Councilor Pat Lucero supports the resolution and plans to vote for approval at the meeting.

"The Second Amendment has been under attack for a long time," Lucero said. "If there's a federal mandate to remove that right, we will stand as a local community and city government to show our support for our sheriff and to protect the Constitution.

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The resolution states, "Bloomfield will uphold the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, and will act in conformity with our sworn duties as duly elected officials charged with public trust, and will, in conjunction with prior decisions by the United States Supreme Court, not enforce any statutes, edicts, Presidential directives, or other regulations and proclamations which conflict — and are expressly preempted by — the U.S. Supreme Court's rulings."

Kovacs believes the resolution is of value, especially in the shadow of the current gun-control debate playing out in Washington.

"David (Fuqua) and I sat down with the sheriff, wanted to show our support for the Constitution, which is clearly under attack," Kovacs said. "If anybody tries to infringe upon, change, or alter it, law enforcement will stand in opposition. We will not take guns from our citizens."

Sheriff Christesen cites congressional actions as further evidence for the resolution's importance.

"It's important that we understand the climate we're in," Christesen said. "There's currently a big push to ban high-capacity magazines and assault rifles. People are focusing on the gun. Don't blame the gun. It's society that has changed. This is a reaffirmation of the oath to uphold the constitutional rights of all of us."

The meeting will be held Monday at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 915 N. First St. For more information, contact the city at 505-632-6300.